• Water Quality
• Water Supply
• Sewer / Wastewater
• Recycled Water
• Backflow Prevention
• Urban Runoff
• Facilities
• Urban Water Management Plan
• Research Business Plan

Regulations. Rules. Policies.

The State of California actively encourages the increased use of high-quality recycled water and strongly supports recycled water as a safe alternative to potable water for state approved recycled water uses.

Recycled Water Governance

The production and use of recycled water is governed and regulated by the State through a variety of documents:

• Section 13550 of the California Water Code is a declaration by the State Legislature that the use of potable water is a waste if recycled water is available.
• The California Recycled Water Policy, adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board in February 2009, is intended to guide, clarify, and encourage the use of recycled water. The Policy, developed through a comprehensive stakeholder process, emphasizes the goal of using recycled water to the greatest extent possible throughout California. 
• The Purple Book is a compilation of laws, regulations and other guidance documents pertaining to the use of recycled water in California. Two key regulations included in the Purple Book are, Title 22 which describes what recycled water is, what it can be used for and the site conditions required for its use and Title 17 which includes regulations related to drinking water backflow protection and cross-connection prevention.

Statewide Oversight Agencies

Several statewide agencies and their local counterparts are partners in the governance, regulation and oversight of the production and use of recycled water in California.

The State Water Resources Control Board establishes general policies governing the permitting of recycled water projects consistent with its role of protecting water quality. The State Board exercises general oversight over recycled water projects, including review of Regional Board permitting practices, and leads the efforts to meet the state’s water recycling goals. 

California's nine Regional Water Quality Control Boards are responsible for the protection of surface and groundwater resources through the issuance of recycled water permits. IRWD operates its recycled water program based on permits issued by two Regional Boards. IRWD owns and operates two wastewater treatment plants which are located in two different regional board jurisdictions. The Michelson Water Recycling Plant, located in the City of Irvine, is permitted by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board, while the Los Alisos Water Recycling Plant, located in the City of Lake Forest, falls under the jurisdiction of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board. As a member of agency of the South Orange County Wastewater Authority, a joint powers authority, IRWD operates Los Alisos under the permit issued to SOCWA.

The California Department of Public Health is responsible for public health protection including regulating both potable and recycled water programs through enforcement of applicable regulations. Additionally, the Department of Public Health is responsible for the development of uniform water recycling criteria appropriate to each particular use of recycled water.

The Orange County Health Care Agency oversees portions of IRWD’s recycled water program on behalf of the Department of Public Health. County Health reviews plans for recycled water use sites and may inspect the infrastructure construction to ensure compliance with state regulations.  

The California Department of Water Resources is charged with reviewing and updating the California Water Plan every five years. The Plan includes an evaluation of the quantity of recycled water currently being used and what is planned for future uses. The Department of Water Resources also shares jurisdiction with the State Board for the allocation and distribution of bond funding for recycled water projects.  

IRWD's Rules and Regulations

In addition to State laws and regulations, IRWD provides our own requirements for the use of recycled water in our service area. The following sections of IRWD’s Rules and Regulations provide information to help maximize the safe and reliable use of recycled water. For the complete IRWD Rules and Regulations document, please visit the IRWD Engineering Library.

• Section 4.12 – Use of Recycled Water
• Section 4.12.2 – Requirement to Use Recycled Water
• Section 5.3 – On-Site Recycled Water Facilities (Design and Construction)
• Section 6.2.2 – On-Site Recycled Water Facilities (Operation)